Piloti (band)
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Piloti ( sr-cyr, Пилоти, trans. ''The Pilots'') is a
rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
band from Belgrade. Formed in 1981, and initially immersed in the Yugoslav new wave scene, the band later moved towards mainstream
pop rock Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre with an emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than rock music. Originating in the late 1950s as an alternative to normal rock and roll, earl ...
, they came to prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s as one of the leading pop rock acts in
former Yugoslavia The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, commonly referred to as SFR Yugoslavia or simply as Yugoslavia, was a country in Central and Southeast Europe. It emerged in 1945, following World War II, and lasted until 1992, with the breakup of Yu ...
. The band disbanded in 1997, only to be reformed in 2009 under the name
Kiki Lesendrić Zoran "Kiki" Lesendrić ( sr-Cyrl, Зоран "Кики" Лесендрић) is a Serbian rock musician, most notable as the founding member of the rock band Piloti. Early career With Piloti he released a number of albums in the former Yugo ...
& Piloti.


History


New wave years (1981—1982)

The band was formed in 1981, by the former members of Kako, a band whose greatest claim to fame was appearing as one of the seven opening acts for
Bijelo Dugme Bijelo Dugme (trans. ''White Button'') was a Yugoslav rock band, formed in Sarajevo, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1974. Bijelo Dugme is widely considered to have been the most popular band ever to exist in the former Socialist Federal Republic ...
spectacular concert at the Belgrade
JNA stadium The Partizan Stadium (Serbian language, Serbian: Стадион Партизанa / ''Stadion Partizana'') is a association football, football and track-and-field Multi-purpose stadium, stadium in Autokomanda, Belgrade, Serbia. The home ground of ...
in 1979. The inaugural lineup of Piloti was: Zoran "Kiki" Lesendrić (
vocals Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or withou ...
,
guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected strin ...
), Dragan Andrić (
bass guitar The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and ...
), Goran Bogićević (guitar) and Nenad Antanasijević ( drums). Their debut album ''Piloti'' (''The Pilots'') was released on August 27, 1981 by
PGP-RTB PGP-RTB (abbreviation for sr, Produkcija gramofonskih ploča Radio televizije Beograd) was a major state-owned record label and chain record store in the former SFR Yugoslavia, based in Belgrade, Socialist Republic of Serbia. After the breakup ...
and produced by the former
Generacija 5 Generacija 5 ( sr-cyr, Генерација 5; trans. ''Generation 5'') is a Serbian and Yugoslav rock band formed in Belgrade in 1977. The mainstay members of the band are keyboardist and band leader Dragoljub Ilić and guitarist Dragan Jovan ...
guitarist Dragan Jovanović.''Piloti'' at Discogs
/ref> All of the tracks were composed and written by Lesandrić, with the exception of "Imam diplomu", "Svi smo mi ponekad anđeli" and "Veseli momci", co-written by Lesandrić and Goran Bogićević. Song "Ne veruj u idole" ("Don't Believe in Idols") became an instant hit, and was included on several new wave compilation records. After the success with their debut album, the followup, entitled ''Dvadeset godina'' (''Twenty Years'') was released on April 20, 1982 by PGP-RTB, and was produced by
Saša Habić Aleksandar "Saša" Habić (Serbian Cyrillic: Саша Хабић; born 17 March 1956) is a Serbian and former Yugoslav musician, record producer and composer. During his career as a producer he worked with artists like Piloti, Divlji Anđeli, U ...
. All tracks were composed and written by Lesandrić including the minor hits "Dvadeset godina" ("Twenty Years"), "Noć u gradu" ("A Night in the City"), "Džoni je krenuo u rat" ("Johnny Went to War") and "Ja sam jurio za vetrom" ("I Have Chased the Wind"). During late 1982, the band started working on their third album, ''Zvuci civilizacije'' (''The Sounds of Civilisation''), which was never released because of Lesandrić's army obligations, and the band went on hiatus.


Mainstream rock years (1984-1991)

Piloti re-assembled during the late 1984 with the entirely new line-up, featuring Kiki Lesendrić, as the only returnee from the original lineup, and the newly arrived Zoran "Ćera" Obradović (drums), Safet "Saja" Petrovac (guitar), and Miško Plavi, formerly of
D' Boys D' may resemble: * D' (''D'' + apostrophe), the contracted form of words in several languages (for example, a French indefinite article); for a full list, see the Wiktionary entry * Dʼ (''D'' + modifier apostrophe), Slavic notation for palata ...
(bass guitar). The band's third album ''Kao ptica na mom dlanu'' (''Like a Bird on My Palm'') was released on May 25, 1987 by PGP-RTB and produced by Dušan Petrović "Šane". The author of all songs was Lesendrić, except for "Noć čeka nas" ("The Night Is Waiting for Us") which he co-wrote with Bogićević and "Pišem po zidu" ("I'm Writing on the Wall") with Ilija Stanković. A large number of musicians contributed to the album recording: Dejan Grujić (bass guitar), Darko Grujić (
keyboard Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Musi ...
), Vlada Negovanović (guitar), Enco Lesić (keyboards), Valdet Šaćiri (keyboards), Jovan Maljoković (
saxophone The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of Single-reed instrument, single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed (mouthpi ...
), Nenad Stefanović "Japanac" (bass guitar), Bane Lesendrić (
backing vocals A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are ...
),
Oliver Mandić Oliver Mandić (Serbian Cyrillic: Оливер Мандић; born 13 July 1953) is a Serbian rock musician, composer, and producer. Early life Musically involved from a young age, Mandić first started playing the accordion before taking up the ...
, Momčilo Bajagić "Bajaga",
Kornelije Kovač Kornelije "Bata" Kovač ( sr-Cyrl, Корнелије "Бата" Ковач, ; hu, Kovács Kornél; 1 January 1942 – 13 September 2022) was a Serbian composer. Early life Born in Niš during World War II in the Nazi-occupied Serbia to a ...
,
Zana Nimani Zana Šiškin (; sr-cyr, Зана Шишкин, ; born in September 1961) is a Serbian former singer, best known as the first frontress of the pop rock band Zana. Biography Zana Nimani was born in 1961 in Belgrade, to Kosovo Albanian parents ...
and others. The greatest hit from this album was the title track, and other hit songs were "Kada sanjamo" ("When we Dream"), "Rekla je da u mojoj glavi čuje gitare i bubnjeve" ("She Said She Heard Guitars and Drums in My Head") and "Devojka bez imena" ("A Girl with no Name"). The fourth album ''Osmeh letnje noći'' (''A Midsummer Night Smile'') was published on May 11, 1988 by PGP-RTB, and produced by the band themselves for the first time. The author of all the songs was Lesandrić. Musicians who contributed to this album were
Saša Lokner Saša is a South Slavic given name. It is a diminutive of Aleksandar (see Sasha), but in the South Slavic countries it is often a formal name as well. It may refer to: * Saša Antunović (born 1974), Serbian footballer *Saša Bjelanović (born 197 ...
(keyboards), Bane Lesendrić (backing vocals), Viktorija (backing vocals in song "Sa tvoje strane ulice") and Zoran Vračević (
percussion A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Ex ...
). The greatest hit from this album was "Leto" ("Summer") and minor hits were "Ako misliš da sam tužan" ("If You Think I'm Sad") and "Ona" ("She"). During 1989, guitarist Petrovac left the band and Bane Lesandrić, Kiki's brother joined. The fifth album ''Neka te Bog čuva za mene'' (''May God Save You for Me'') was published on March 29, 1990 for PGP-RTB in band's production. The author of songs was Kiki, except for "Jedino što nam ostaje" ("The Only Thing Left") (a cover of
Pete Townshend Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend (; born 19 May 1945) is an English musician. He is co-founder, leader, guitarist, second lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the Who, one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s. Townsh ...
) and "Tiho, tiho" ("Silently, Silently") by Bane Lesandrić.
Laza Ristovski Lazar "Laza" Ristovski (Serbian Cyrillic: Лаза Ристовски, ; 23 January 1956 – 6 October 2007) was a Serbian and former Yugoslav keyboardist, known for being a member of rock bands Smak and Bijelo Dugme, as well as for his eclecti ...
contributed to this album by playing the keyboards on two songs. The special guests were
Goran Bregović Goran Bregović (born 22 March 1950) is a recording artist from Bosnia and Herzegovina. He is one of the most internationally known modern musicians and composers of the Slavic-speaking countries in the Balkans, and is one of the few former Yug ...
( Guitar solo on "Tiho, tiho"), Jovan Maljoković (saxophone), Darko Grujić (backing vocals) and Zana vocalist Jelena Galonić (backing vocals). The greatest hit from the album was "Tajna je u tebi skrivena" ("The Secret Is Hidden inside You") and minor hits were "Tiho, tiho" and "Neka te bog čuva za mene". The following year, on August 22, 1991 PGP-RTB published Piloti's ''Greatest Hits'' album.


Commercial peak, disbandment (1993-1997)

In 1993 Piloti published the soundtrack for the movie '' Zaboravljeni'' (''The Forgotten Ones'') for PGP-RTS. The songs were written by Lesandrić,
Marina Tucaković Marina Tucaković ( sr-Cyrl, Марина Туцаковић; 4 November 1953 – 19 September 2021) was a Serbian lyricist and songwriter. Born and raised in Belgrade, Serbia, Tucaković had a degree from the Economic Faculty at the University ...
, Goran Bregović (the track "Spavaju li oči nebeske" ("Do the Eyes in the Sky Sleep")) and Laza Ristovski (the title track). Guests on the album were Goran Bregović, Marko Nafta, Nenad Stefanović "Japanac", Bata Božanić and others. The album brought their greatest hit "Zaboravljeni", and other two hits were "Čini mi se da" ("It Seems to Me") and "Kao da je mesec stao za nas dvoje" ("As if the Moon Had Stopped for the Two of Us"). Between 1993 and 1996, Piloti were on hiatus while Kiki Lesendrić worked with many Serbian artists. The band was back on stage in 1996 for the Budva Summer Festival with the song "Neverna si" ("You Are Unfaithful") and in November 1996 Komuna published their last album ''Dan koji prolazi zauvek'' (''A Day which Is Passing Forever'') produced by Kiki Lesendrić and Igor Borojević. All songs were composed by Kiki and Zoran Babović. Guests were Nenad Stefanović "Japanac" (bass guitar), Nenad Jelić (percussions, vocal),
Ana Popović Ana Popović ( sr-Cyrl, Ана Поповић, born May 13, 1976) is a blues singer and guitarist from Serbia who currently resides in the United States. Biography Early life Popović was born in 1976 in Belgrade. Her father (Milton Popović) ...
(guitar), Goran Bregović, Maksa Ćatović, Aca Milenković, Miša Amadeus and others. Minor hits from this album were "Neverna si" and "Dan koji prolazi zauvek". The band was dissolved in 1997, and Bread Ventures Records published the greatest hits album ''Ne veruj u idole'' the same year.


Kiki Lesendrić & Piloti (2009-present)

Having released his debut solo album, the 2008 ''Mesec na vratima'' (''The Moon at the Door''), Lesendrić started a promotional tour, ''Svet je lep kada sanjamo'' (''The World Is Beautiful when We Dream''), during which he started performing as ''Kiki Lesendrić & Piloti''. During the same year, PGP-RTS released the greatest hits compilation album ''Najveći hitovi''. The band performed a 22-date tour of Serbia,
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and H ...
,
Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...
,
Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...
and
Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
. The recordings of the 2009
Belgrade Beer Fest The Belgrade Beer Fest ( sr, Београдски фестивал пива, Beogradski festival piva) is an annual festival of beer in Belgrade, Serbia. Started in 2003, the festival is held annually over five days each August as a showcase even ...
and
Novi Sad Novi Sad ( sr-Cyrl, Нови Сад, ; hu, Újvidék, ; german: Neusatz; see below for other names) is the second largest city in Serbia and the capital of the autonomous province of Vojvodina. It is located in the southern portion of the Pan ...
Spens Sports Center SPC Vojvodina ( sr-cyr, СПЦ Војводина), short for Sports and Business Center Vojvodina ( sr, Спортски и пословни центар Војводина, Sportski i poslovni centar Vojvodina), commonly referred to as SPENS ( s ...
performances were released on a live album and DVD released in 2010 as ''Svet je lep kada sanjamo - turneja 2009'' In 2012, the band released the album ''Slučajno i zauvek'' (''Accidentally and Forever''). Beside Lesendrić, a part of the material on the album was written by
Mlađan Dinkić Mlađan Dinkić ( sr-cyr, Млађан Динкић, ; born 20 December 1964) is a Serbian economist, musician and former politician. He was the 1st Governor of the National Bank of Serbia, serving from 2000 to 2003. He then served as the Ministe ...
and a part by
Đorđe Balašević Đorđe Balašević ( sr-Cyrl, Ђорђе Балашевић; 11 May 1953 – 19 February 2021) was a Serbian and Yugoslav singer and songwriter, writer, poet and director. He began his career in the late 1970s as a member of the band Rani Mraz, ...
. At the beginning of 2016, the band released their latest studio album, ''Širom zatvorenih očiju'' (''Eyes Wide Shut''). The song "Manje-više" ("More or Less") was recorded with the members of the
Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...
n band Luminize, and the song "Manje-više" with pop singer Sara Jo.


Legacy

In 2000, the song "Kao ptica na mom dlanu" was polled No.74 on
Rock Express Top 100 Yugoslav Rock Songs of All Times 100 najboljih pesama svih vremena YU rocka (''Top 100 Yugoslav Rock Songs of All Times'') was a list compiled by the Serbian music magazine '' Rock Express''. In 1999, ''Rock Express'' started the poll for the selection of top 100 Yugoslav rock s ...
list. In 2011, the same song was polled, by the listeners of Radio 202, one of 60 greatest songs released by
PGP-RTB PGP-RTB (abbreviation for sr, Produkcija gramofonskih ploča Radio televizije Beograd) was a major state-owned record label and chain record store in the former SFR Yugoslavia, based in Belgrade, Socialist Republic of Serbia. After the breakup ...
/ PGP-RTS during the sixty years of the label's existence.60 хитова емисије ПГП на 202!, facebook.com
/ref> The lyrics of the song "Imam diplomu" ("I Have a Degree") were featured in
Petar Janjatović Petar Janjatović (born 1956 in Belgrade) is a Serbian author, journalist, and music critic. Biography Janjatović was born in Belgrade on June 30, 1956. Journalism As a teenager, he contributed to Radio Beograd show ''Veče uz radio'' (''Eve ...
's book '' Pesme bratstva, detinjstva & potomstva: Antologija ex YU rok poezije 1967 - 2007'' (''Songs of Brotherhood, Childhood & Offspring: Anthology of Ex YU Rock Poetry 1967 - 2007'').


Discography


Studio albums

* ''Piloti'' (1981) * ''Dvadeset godina'' (1982) * ''Kao ptica na mom dlanu'' (1987) * ''Osmeh letnje noći'' (1988) * ''Neka te bog čuva za mene'' (1990) * ''Zaboravljeni'' (1993) * ''Dan koji prolazi zauvek'' (1996) * ''Mesec na vratima'' (2008) * ''Slučajno i zauvek'' (as Kiki Lesendrić & Piloti; 2012) * ''Širom zatvorenih očiju'' (as Kiki Lesendrić & Piloti; 2016) * ''Mali tragovi na nebu'' (as Kiki Lesendrić & Piloti; 2022)


Compilation albums

* ''Najveći hitovi 1981-1991'' (1991) * ''Ne veruj u idole - Hitovi'' (1997) * ''Najveći hitovi'' (2009) * ''Rekla je da u mojoj glavi čuje gitare i bubnjeve'' (2017)


Live albums

* ''Svet je lep kada sanjamo - turneja 2009'' (as Kiki Lesendrić & Piloti, 2010)


Video albums

* ''Svet je lep kada sanjamo - turneja 2009'' (as Kiki Lesendrić & Piloti, 2010)


See also

*
New wave music in Yugoslavia New wave in Yugoslavia ( sr-Cyrl-Latn, Нови талас, Novi talas; hr, Novi val; sl, Novi val; mk, Нов бран) was the new wave music scene of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. As its counterparts, the British and the Amer ...


References


Vremeplov: Piloti
*''EX YU ROCK enciklopedija 1960-2006'', Janjatović Petar;


External links


Piloti
at
Discogs Discogs (short for discographies) is a database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. While the site was originally created with a goal of becoming the ...

Lyrics on Svaštara
{{DEFAULTSORT:Piloti (Band) Serbian rock music groups Serbian pop rock music groups Serbian new wave musical groups Yugoslav rock music groups Musical groups from Belgrade Musical groups established in 1981